NOAA Fisheries has proposed expanding its Seafood Import Monitoring Program, a risk-based program for targeted species of seafood imported for domestic sales, from some 1,100 individual species up to approximately 1,670 species.
The program currently establishes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for nearly half of all U.S. seafood imports to keep illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) imports from entering the U.S. economy.
“The program is one of several tools NOAA Fisheries utilizes to combat IUU fishing and ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in the effort to safeguard the sustainability of marine species worldwide,” said Janet Coit, deputy NOAA administrator.
The rule, accounted on Tuesday, Dec. 27, proposes to expand the species currently subject to the program — including red snapper and tuna — to include all species in the snapper family and additional tunas, to minimize the risk of mislabeling and product substitution that is used to bypass the Seafood Import Monitoring Program requirements. In addition, the rule proposes to add cuttlefish and squid, eels, octopus, queen conch, and Caribbean spiny lobster to the program. The rule also proposes to make additional program modifications and improvements.
NOAA Fisheries uses a risk-based framework to target species that are most vulnerable to IUU fishing and seafood fraud. This approach allows for efficient use of government resources for screening and implementation, while minimizing industry burden and trade impact.
The agency welcomes feedback on the potential addition of these species and other elements in the proposed rule to clarify the responsibilities of International Fisheries Trade Permit holders, electronic recordkeeping requirements, and provisions to accommodate small-scale fisheries. NOAA Fisheries also seeks feedback from stakeholders on program improvements, such as interest in a standardized form for compliance.
The comment period for the proposed rule will close on March 28. NOAA Fisheries will consider all public comments before issuing a final rule.
